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By Gavin Boyle
Though high screen time has become the norm for childhood, experts warn that kids should not have unfettered access to their devices as these unhealthy practices pose huge risks for young brains.
“Research has shown regular screen time and excessive screen time can change both the physical structure of the brain such as areas responsible for memory and planning, and how different parts of the brain communicate with each other,” Dr. Samir Shah, consultant psychiatrist and medical director at Priory Hospital Altrincham, told The Independent.
“[High screen time] is similar to only exercising one muscle group, and other important mental muscles like focus, delayed gratification and self-control can weaken if they are not used enough,” Dr. Shah continued.
This explains why parents should not only be wary of high screen time but also use discretion when providing kids access to their devices. For example, it can be easy to use devices as a sort of pacifier when kids are difficult to handle, but this only serves as a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
“Children with behavioral issues or challenging temperaments are more likely to elicit the use of digital pacifiers, as parents may struggle to manage their frequent tantrums,” Veronika Konnk, a lecturer at the ELTE Faculty of Science in Budapest, told HuffPost, noting, “occasional use in unavoidable situations is understandable, but consistent reliance can hinder long-term emotional development.”
Related: Adolescence Screen Time Spikes Risk of This Mental Health Disorder
“[Using screens as pacifiers] takes away an opportunity to teach the child about how to respond to difficult emotions, and it can reinforce that big displays of their difficult emotions are effective ways to get what they want,” Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician, added.
Thus, parents should do everything in their power to help their kids lower their screen time and aid the development of skills being neutered by technology. While educating your kids about the dangers of screen time is important, the most effective way to help them is to set a good example with your own device use.
“One of the biggest predictors of adolescents’ screen use is their parents’ screen use,” Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at the University of California San Francisco, told the Washington Post. “It’s especially important that parents follow their own rules and practice what they preach, because even if they think their kids aren’t watching them, they really are.”
While it is becoming increasingly obvious that high screen time is bad for kids, everyone should take their screen time seriously as it not only affects their own mental health and development but impacts those around them as well.
Read Next: Parental Screen Use Can Harm Adolescents
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